"Hn," Kikyo snorted. He leaned his head to the wall behind him, still cradling Kougaiji's head in his lap. The boy's warmth felt so familiar, bittersweet. Like a trusting child, he'd fallen asleep, leaning into him as his world went black. How old will he be when Kougaiji discovered that those he trusted could hurt him the most?

"If you find any value in your life, then yes," he said drily. He didn't expect John to realize how close he had come to his own death, foolish and proud as he was.